Ha! That headline got your attention, didn’t it!

I’ve been reading Ezekiel’s story. In the early chapters, he’s seeing and hearing God very clearly, complete with great clouds engulfing themselves in raging fire and such. I’m impressed by his resolve and his obedience. And yes, cow dung will come into play later. Keep reading.

First God tells him to go and talk to these really difficult and rebellious people. Whether they listen or not, tell them about the Lord. Oh, and by the way, there’s no chance they are going to listen to you. Then He says, don’t worry, even though you’ll be in the middle of briers and thorns, dwelling with scorpions. Oh, and not a big deal, but they will probably put ropes on you and bind you with them, but I’ll make sure your tongue clings to the roof of your mouth so that you won’t voice disapproval. Oh, and the food I give you, I’d like for you to bake it using a pile of human poop, and…

At this point, Ezekiel finally says, “Hold up, wait a minute, um no way.”

And God responds with a compromise of sorts saying, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste.”

Well, ok then. That changes everything! 

Ezekiel was being asked to do a lot. And for the most part, he just kept saying yes. And doing it. Following what God asked of him. Being obedient.  I’m a little rusty on my Ezekiel history, so I’m hoping he doesn’t fall off the wagon before the end of the book. As it stands in chapter 6, he seems to fully understand his duty as a man of God.

In Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 it talks about the “whole duty of man.” It says not to over complicate the matter. Too much study is wearisome. There can books upon books and still no conclusion. (Yes, I see the irony in the fact that I’m about to throw one more book upon the pointless pile!) In the end, the answer is as simple as this: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Fear God, as in respect Him, honor Him, defer to His will. And then keep His commandments, as in be obedient. Like Ezekiel was doing without hesitation, right up until the baking his food in human waste thing.

I may not have seen God in a flaming cloud, but I have seen Him in equally obvious ways. And He may not have asked me to risk my safety to deliver His word and to use cow dung to bake my food, but He has pushed me with requests that are hard and uncomfortable. I’m being stretched even as I log this post. My whole duty as a man is to simply follow the call. Stretch and be stretched. Keep His commandments as best I can. Whether I agree with or even understand the master plan He has for me. And yes, hopefully, poop plays no great role.